The food is good, AntiPasta Salad, Pizza, and Spicy Spaghetti w/Shrimp was really good.
It's a 4+ and a spot you'd be very happy stopping by!The main reason I didn't consider a 5 is the shrimp were sadly not fresh. Calamari I suspect wasn't either but wasn't 100% there. Maybe a supply issue but it'd make it a must stop.It was really great though. The warm focaccia bread with balsamic and olive oil to start was nice.Then the shrimp carbonara and the spaghetti with clams in white sauce. The spaghetti in white sauce was fantastic! Great portion of clam which made the dish. Pasta was al dente which was spot on! The carbonara was spot in minus the seafood. Nice and creamy, good portion of peas and ham.And the mini cannoli was the perfect finish! Great sheep and filling was just right. Not too sweet.We found out that Nacho was our chef! A big kudos!
Just moved to the area. Have had takeout from this place 3x & I'm so very happy. Not only are they consistent with the goodness but the portions are always a healthy size. Just when I thought consistency was lost in the food service world Maria's has given me hope again. Best thing is when u find a good dish & it stays good every time u order it. Thank u Maria's!! I look forward to exploring the rest of your menu ?. It's worth every penny!!! ??????
I love this place. I actually knew Maria from way back in the '70s; when she had the place on Pico.Really nice lady. I also met her daughter Maddy, at a restaurant I was working at in Agoura hills, around 2016.Also a very nice lady. ? I actually have some leftover lasagna in my refrigerator right now, from Maria's in Pasadena last night.?
The problem I have with Maria's is that the items that used to set them apart from all the other "Italian family restaurants" have been removed from their menu.As with most businesses, not just restaurants, only best-sellers are kept in the inventory.They used to have a delicious spicy risotto with shrimp and corn, a salad with gorgonzola and pecans, but they longer will make them even if you offer to pay extra. They used to let customers order either a large or small size chicken piccata dinner. Not any more. And they used to have a bar that made a most delicious cocktail called The Milano. Nope, they no longer even have a bar, and the wines that are on the menu are, shall we say, not exactly Italy's best.Although l am still glad to order the chicken piccata or generous sized meatballs, I find it a little depressing to go to Maria's. We were loyal patrons for nearly 30 yrs. We'd frequent the one in Reseda, Studio City, Hastings Ranch, but now we go only occasionally.I understand that the pandemic has taken a terrible toll on the restaurant-and-hospitality industries, but if they want to keep customers coming back, they need to offer things you can't get at every other place that bills itself as specializing in a specific cuisine, but serves only what one can get anywhere else. Otherwise it's a lot cheaper to just boil up your own pot of water and throw in a box of pasta.
Food was meh and significanly overpriced. $17 for lunch special sandwich. Worst part, service was terrible! The guy that dropped the bread off grunted at us when we said thank you. One waitress during Friday afternoon lunch. She had 3 tables and we had to wait and wait. Wait to order, wait to get to go box, had to ask for check then finally brought it up to the bar ourselves. Will not be returning.
UPDATE: Today I returned to Maria's and ordered the egg plant Parmesan. My mom used to prepare this dish and it was amazing. Maria's was even better than mom's. The sauce was rich in flavor and the cheese atop the egg plant was perfect. Everything I have ever ordered at Maria's is excellently prepared. They have phenomenal chef's.Superb food. They are the best in pasta. The sauces are impeccable and the service is consistently good. I highly recommend Maria's Kitchen.
UPDATE: Today I returned to Maria's and ordered the egg plant Parmesan. My mom used to prepare this dish and it was amazing. Maria's was even better than mom's. The sauce was rich in flavor and the cheese atop the egg plant was perfect. Everything I have ever ordered at Maria's is excellently prepared. They have phenomenal chef's.Superb food. They are the best in pasta. The sauces are impeccable and the service is consistently good. I highly recommend Maria's Kitchen.
Good service! The chicken Santa Rosa is delicious. The rosemary bread they give for free is very tasty! I'll be back. Seems family owned and operated I love that
Maria’s has the best Chicken Piccata I’ve ever had. Our server was Daniel and he was friendly, helpful, and prompt. I look forward to coming back when I’m in the area!